Man drove off while officer was leaning into the vehicle

A POLICE officer was fortunate to escape serious injury when a motorist he was questioning drove off while he was still leaning through the car window.

The driver, 23-year-old Samuel Biddle, appeared in court last week and was sentenced to 34 weeks in prison and disqualified from driving for two years and 17 weeks, police said.

The force released details of the case, which was heard at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

It said in a statement: “At about 2am on January 5, officers on patrol stopped a vehicle in Squirrel Lane, Breedon-on-the-Hill.

“While officers were attempting to speak to him, Biddle drove off with an officer leaning into the car, causing an injury to the officer’s shoulder.”

Biddle, of Woodlands Avenue, Derby, was sentenced for the offence of assaulting an emergency worker.

Pc Iliya Zarac said: “This was a very serious incident and it was fortunate the officer did not suffer more significant injuries.

“Decisive action by officers at the scene brought the incident to a quick conclusion.”

Official figures show there were 691 assaults on officers in the city and county last year – a steep increase on recent years, although officers are being encouraged to report all acts of violence against them.